LASER THERAPY
Online ISSN : 1884-7269
Print ISSN : 0898-5901
ISSN-L : 0898-5901
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES OF THE INNER EAR WITH LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY (LLLT):
PILOT PROJECT
L. WildenD. Dindinger
Author information
JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1996 Volume 8 Issue 3 Pages 209-212

Details
Abstract

One hundred and thirty-nine patients who presented in a 22 month period were treated with low reactive-level laser therapy LLLT using combined HeNe and infrared diode lasers (632.8 nm, 20 mW and 830 nm 100 mW, respectively) for a variety of chronic complex diseases of the inner ear with such symptoms of tinnitus and vertigo. They received 15 treatments for the purpose of this study. In addition to the laser therapy they were prescribed a daily dose of a plant-based drug (ginkgoflavonglycoside). In response to a post-therapy questionnaire, 77.4% of the patients reported significant overall improvement including their general sense of well-being; 67.7% reported significant improvement in their tinnitus; and 82.5% reported significant improvement of their vertigo. Audiometric tests showed a significant improvement in hearing of around 20 dB over all frequencies in 83% of the patients. Treatment was continued after the trial for those patients with persistent irritating symptoms associated with their inner ear condition, and by the end of two years, all patients were cured. There has been no recurrence in a two-year follow-up. Although some patients reported some exacerbation of their condition (2.2%, general well being, 2.2% in tinnitus but 0% in vertigo), they did not associate this with the laser therapy but rather with individual stress-related problems. Laser therapy is therefore reported in this pilot study as being effective for improvement of well-being, treatment of tinnitus and alleviation of vertigo in a large percentage of chronic inner ear conditions. In addition LLLT was easy to apply, pain-free, noninvasive and had no significant adverse side effects.

Content from these authors
© 1996 Japan Medical Laser Laboratory
Previous article
feedback
Top